So what was the $749 "mystery product"?

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  • Reply 81 of 90
    opusopus Posts: 15member
    My vote is that Apple buys XM radio or Sirius, whichever one is closest to bankruptcy at this moment. Apple's endorsement of this technology would encourage more people to buy into the technology.



    Then, Apple releases an iPod with the same size utilizing: 40 GB 1.8" HD, satellite radio receiver, and longer battery life or swappable battery (I would like fuel cell/hydrogen power, but not ready for use just yet). Steve bundles one year of satellite radio service. $99 more for lifetime service.



    The sPod (satellite Pod) also includes built-in audio recording. Also, the ability to record off of the satellite radio onto the sPod (so you can listen to the game, when you get out of class), but you cannot copy satellite audio to a computer (until hackers resolve that little problem).



    I would buy that for $749.
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  • Reply 82 of 90
    XM and Sirius has already standardized around the mPeg4 standard and AAC.
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  • Reply 83 of 90
    bungebunge Posts: 7,329member
    Quote:

    Originally posted by stingerman

    XM and Sirius has already standardized around the mPeg4 standard and AAC.



    Speaking of which, does anyone know what codec they're using for the AAC-Pro encoding they do? It's amazingly low bit-rates with good sound. I'd love to try that on the iPod.
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  • Reply 84 of 90
    Apple is not going to buy a company that is losing money. You buy companies that are doing well.
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  • Reply 85 of 90
    They bought NeXT, but they also got Steve back in that deal.



    Apple is one of the few companies with vision. Apple is an innovation leader and other companies follow their lead. They may not always do things first, but they do things with style, iPod.



    If Steve pushed satellite radio, I am sure that people would stand up and take more notice. I believe satellite radio has great potential, but people are concerned with buying into a technology when they are not sure the companies will survive (same problem Tivo has faced). Apple's endorsement would get more business.



    I doubt this is the product to be introduced, but this is a future hardware section and this is on my wish list.
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  • Reply 86 of 90
    I agree, All XM needs is to be carried and endorsed and promoted by a company that has more marketing leverage. Like Apple.



    There are buyouts of losing companies all the time. It happens often when a technology can not be carried, marketed, effectively by its copyright holders (innovators with little monetary power).



    Isnt that what Happened with Gates and DOS? for about $50k?



    Sat Radio would be awesome on an iPod.
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  • Reply 87 of 90
    Some people here argue that they don't see a market for a vPod because they don't need one. But this is not the question of a potential iPod buyer. The question imho is what does an iPod offer what devices like http://www.theregister.co.uk/content/54/34184.html don't? As soon as prices come down Apple has to offer something to compete with portable video players, PDAs or even smart phones or the iPod will die fast, simply because being an audio player won't be enough anymore.



    End of Line
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  • Reply 88 of 90
    matsumatsu Posts: 6,558member
    Instead of wasting time with XM or Sirius and their ridiculous pay-per-play satellite music services -- which deserve a painful death, I might add -- Apple could go with DAB. All the quality of the satellite services, except that like AM/FM it is a free local model. I travel around the Toronto area a lot and most FM stations get 100-150KM range, you don't need more than that unless you're driving croos country. The best thing about radio is the way it's tied to local markets, DAB is easily a better system than satellite radio.
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  • Reply 89 of 90
    The vast majority of FM stations have coverage areas considerably less than 100 km with only the big Class Cs reaching that far. DAB doesn't really increase the effective range all that much and, similar to DTV, it's and all or nothing proposition, no poor but listenable signal; it's there or its not. Still, its quality and potential for multiple streams using the same bandwith are significant advantages.



    The current lack of local market stations in satellite service is one of two major drawbacks for XM and Sirius, although both services claim to be meeting new subscriber targets. I think that the bigger (and almost never mentioned) problem is poor or non-existant service in urban areas. Cars in concrete canyons can't get the signal so XM and Sirius need to add multiple terrestrial networks to provide service in cities. They are conspicuously mum on the subject but there's been little evidence thus far that they are making a concerted effort in this area. Long-term, it could be a killer.



    By the way, XM is carried and promoted by GM. Think what you will of GM's products, but Apple can't touch them for marketing leverage.
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  • Reply 90 of 90
    GM could always put an iPod connector in their Cars, other companies are starting to do this.
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